School Psychology

Degree Granted
PsyD
Degree Level
Doctoral
Location
Garden City

Pursue an in-demand career of transforming the lives of children and families with a degree from an award-winning school.

Why Earn a PsyD in School Psychology?

A PsyD in school psychology can lead to a variety of careers in the fields of psychology, education and healthcare. Career paths for those with a PsyD in school psychology include:

  • School psychologist, providing assessment and intervention services to students with academic, behavioral or emotional difficulties or working with teachers and administrators to create a positive and supportive learning environment
  • Mental health counselor, providing services to individuals, families and groups in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, clinics and private practices
  • Researcher, conducting studies on topics related to child development, learning and behavior in universities, research institutes or government agencies
  • Educator, teaching at colleges and universities, training the next generation of school psychologists
  • Consultant, advising schools, businesses or other organizations on topics such as child development, learning, behavior and mental health

Here are some additional career options that may be available to those with a PsyD in school psychology:

  • Program coordinator, developing and implementing school-based programs that promote student success
  • Director of special education, overseeing the delivery of special education services
  • School administrator, overseeing day-to-day operations of schools

The job outlook for those with a PsyD in school psychology is good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of school psychologists will grow 12 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to be driven by the increasing demand for school psychologists, as well as the growing awareness of the importance of mental health in schools.

Why Earn Your PsyD in School Psychology at Adelphi?

  • Receive exemplary training in clinical, diagnostic research and consultative skills from a premier school of psychology in our full-time program.
  • Study in a program committed to community engagement and social justice, with a focus on multicultural educational contexts, emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion.
  • Benefit from hands-on training at the school-based Equity Lab Institute, and the Derner Hempstead Child Clinic.

Where Do School Psychologists Work?

Here’s a sampling of the various settings in which school psychologists may work:

  • Public and private schools
  • Private practice
  • Colleges and universities
  • Community mental health centers
  • Institutional/residential facilities
  • Pediatric clinics and hospitals
  • Criminal justice systems
  • Public agencies
  • Publishing houses

Program Info

The Adelphi University School Psychology philosophical and educational models of training are born within an ecological framework in which research and teaching are guided by advancing social justice for all children through science, practice and policy. The ecological model suggests a structure for the training of practitioner-scientists who understand and practice psychology in a sociocultural context that allows for the conceptualization of relationships among various aspects of the individual (i.e., biological, cultural and relational), in numerous forms of social organizations (i.e., families, schools, neighborhoods, communities, vocational settings) and through multiple structural influences (i.e., socioeconomic factors, social policy, reward systems). The program promotes an understanding of the systematic approach to human and social development and aspires to graduate school psychologists who think systemically and are aware of the profound impact culture and the environment have on the learning and emotional health of children. This framework allows faculty to point to how influenced the children’s development is by biological factors, the immediate environment and the interplay of the larger environment, and how media, school, and state and federal policies can play a major role in children’s learning experiences.

The course of study in the School Psychology doctoral program at Adelphi University prepares students to meet the increasingly diverse responsibilities of school psychologists in an increasingly diverse society. Emphasis is placed on important content areas that contribute to the development of competencies with an understanding and respect for individual differences and human diversity. Our developmental- and competency-based, practitioner-scientist course of study ensures that student learning is appropriately sequenced and integrated into relevant practical experiences. The program’s mission embodies a commitment to work from an ecological and social justice perspective and to promote an understanding of a child’s development through the lens of a larger sociocultural context. This training is intended to extend students’ awareness, knowledge and expertise to address the needs of all children and families, regardless of their particular status. In addition, the program is designed to acquaint students with the diversity of theories and practices of school psychology, allowing the student sufficient intellectual freedom to experiment with different delivery systems and various theoretical bases. Emphasis is also given to being mindful of the children’s subjective states and experiences with others and how their reactions and coping mechanisms can affect their learning and adjustment.

Given this mission, the program aims to ensure that a) all students are knowledgeable and competent in research and scientific-backed practice, particularly as it relates to school psychology, b) are competent in the practice of health service psychology, and c) are competent in the practice in the specialty area of school psychology. These aims facilitate preparation of health service psychologists who will practice in educationally related settings and meet the professional employment demands for psychologists in schools and in child treatment agencies, hospitals and private practice, and for psychoeducational research and mental health research specialists in child psychology.

Fieldwork and Clinical Training

Students are required to complete fieldwork and clinical training whereby applied experiences are integrated with school psychology doctoral course work and theoretical knowledge across multiple field training experiences.

During the third year of doctoral study, students are required to complete a clinical/community externship. Externs shall extend their learning and practicing of professional skills in a clinical or community mental health setting (e.g., hospital, community mental health center, substance abuse recovery program, etc.). This field placement provides students with experiential learning with children, adolescents, families, or adults with myriad academic, behavioral, emotional, and other handicapping conditions.

During the fourth year of doctoral study, students are required to complete a year-long, school-based practicum. The school psychology doctoral practicum, in concert with APA and NASP guidelines, is designed to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their skills in an applied school setting. The practicum experience is specifically designed to prepare students for internship and ultimately, to work effectively with children, families, educators, and community mental health agents. Practicum activities are designed to systematically integrate theory, techniques, empirically-supported practices, research, ethics, and professional behaviors.

Application Requirements and Deadlines

The application deadline for the School Psychology PsyD program is December 1.

Please complete the Centralized Application Service for Graduate Psychology (PSYCAS) application. Once received by PSYCAS, your application and materials go through a verification process before being transmitted for review to the School Psychology Doctoral Program at Adelphi University.

Please submit the following application materials directly to PSYCAS:

  1. Official application form
  2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work. Failure to provide official transcripts from all schools attended will delay the processing of your application.
    • The School Psychology Doctoral faculty recommend a grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale).
    • Final transcripts indicating a conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution.
  3. Official Graduate Record Examination test scores (GRE), no more than five (5) years old. It is the responsibility of the applicant to request official copies of their test score reports be forwarded directly to Adelphi University; the Adelphi GRE code is 2003.
    • The School Psychology Doctoral faculty recommend a score that is at or above the 50th percentile on both the Verbal and Quantitative Sections of the GRE
    • The School Psychology Doctoral faculty recommend a score that is at or above the 50th percentile on Psychology Subject GRE
    • The School Psychology Doctoral faculty recommend a Written GRE score that is at or above a Standard Score of 4
    • The School Psychology Doctoral faculty recommend submitting scores from the Psychology Subject GRE
    • For International Students: TOEFL or IELTS Scores should be forwarded directly to Adelphi University, using code 2003
  4. Three letters of recommendation from three individuals qualified to evaluate the applicant’s personal, ethical, and academic/professional qualifications for graduate study.
  5. Curriculum vita
  6. A well written, clearly articulated personal statement that does not exceed 500 words, that addresses the following:
    • How did you come to learn about school psychology?
    • What is your motivation for pursuing your field of study?
    • What are your professional goals?
  7. A $60 non-refundable application fee.
All components of the application must be received before the application is reviewed by the PsyD Program in School Psychology. It is the applicant's responsibility to follow up with Admissions after the application has been submitted, to verify that the application is complete, prior to the application deadline.

Financial Assistance

Adelphi University makes financial assistance available based on academic merit and financial need. View program tuition and costs.

Many school psychology doctoral students receive graduate assistantships, although funding is not guaranteed. To improve the probability of being awarded a graduate assistantship, students should familiarize themselves with program faculty members, the courses they teach, and their research interests.

The School Psychology PsyD Program offers four types of assistantships:

  1. Research GA
  2. Assessment TA
  3. Departmental GA
  4. Writing Assistance TA

Graduate assistantships range from 5-20 hours per week. Students have the option of tuition deferral, whereby tuition may be paid in installments for an additional fee, arranged with the Bursar’s Office.

Part-time employment is another option, with job opportunities available through the university’s Center for Career and Professional Development.

General need-based financial aid includes Federal Stafford Loans (FSL) and Federal Work Study (FWS). These latter forms of assistance can be acquired by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA. Students interested in additional sources of financial aid, including federal and private loans, may contact Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

The Doctoral Program in School Psychology received approval from the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA) for our “Intent to Apply” application and voted to provide public notice of the program’s intent to seek accreditation on the CoA website. The doctoral program is not currently accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The program is, however, designed to be aligned with the APA’s accreditation standards set forth by the “Standards of Accreditation in Health Service Psychology” (SoA). The Doctoral Program in School Psychology will apply for accreditation as soon as possible.

APA accreditation is designed so that new doctoral programs can apply for, and possibly achieve accreditation, which is the goal for this nascent Psy.D. program. We cannot guarantee accreditation, but will make every effort to be successful toward that goal. Graduation from a nonaccredited program may impact eligibility for licensure in the state in which the student intends to practice. All applicants should investigate licensure requirements of the state in which they intend to practice.

For more information visit the APA accreditation website.

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242

Telephone: 202-336-5979
TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Fax: 202-336-5978

My experience studying for my doctorate at Adelphi has been engaging and thought provoking. The professors are truly interested in your well-being and push you to perform your best academically.

Shannon Lavin PsyD student

Our Research Labs and Centers

Research and clinical experiences are critical to doctoral-level training, and through Adelphi’s own Derner Hempstead Child Clinic, and the Equity Lab Institute we offer our students experience on and off-campus.

The Derner Hempstead Child Clinic

Staffed by faculty and students from Derner, provides opportunities for clinical practice and mental healthcare to students and their families in Hempstead, Long Island, school systems.

The Equity Lab Institute

The Equity Lab Institute is devoted to questions of equity in schools at the levels of policy and practice.

Awards & Recognition

Francesca Ruggiano
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